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Family swims to safety as boat fire is extinguished

Posted at 2:53 PM, Aug 14, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-14 15:15:20-04

SPRING LAKE, Mich. — The Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department Marine Patrol extinguished a boat fire near Pettys Bayou in Spring Lake on Sunday afternoon.

At 12:22 p.m. Sunday, the Sheriff’s Marine Patrol responded with a fireboat to a report of a boat fire. When the fireboat arrived on scene, there were smoke and flames coming from the engine compartment of a 2002 Bombardier that was 19 feet, 7 inches long. All occupants were off the boat and swam to a nearby dock.

Two adults and two children were on the boat. The children were ages 2 and 4. No injuries were reported and the children still had their life jackets on while standing on the dock.

The operator advised of engine problems prior to the fire. Two boat fire extinguishers were used but could not extinguish the fire. At that point, the occupants exited the boat and jumped into the water.

After the fire was extinguished, the boat was towed to a nearby dock. The fire was contained to the boat’s engine area.

Assisting the Marine Division were the Ferrysburg Fire Department and the United States Coast Guard from Grand Haven.